With an investment of over USD 18 million, the Ministry of Public Security and a private printing company have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an electronic border pass.
The project between the Ministry of Public Security and Xokphaxay Printing Company Limited will work towards transforming a regular border pass into an electronic border pass with an embedded chip that can be recognized on a smart device. The border pass allows Lao nationals to cross the border to neighboring countries like Thailand.
Brigadier General Nouchon Konthongdam, the Deputy Director of the General Directorate of Customs, and Ms. Sunattha Litpanya, Director of Chokphaxay Printing House signed the agreement on Tuesday.
The company first discussed the idea of an electronic border pass with the Ministry of Public Security in September 2012. The agreement was approved by the Ministry of Public Security this Monday.
The General Department of the Ministry of Public Security will hold ownership of the project while the printing company has come on board as an investor with 70% stake. The Ministry of Public Security will have a 30% stake for a partnership of 40 years.
Meanwhile, the Laos National Identity Card system continues to be out of order since a database error in September, preventing citizens from getting access to new ID cards
